Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
148. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will create a fund similar to the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund to unlock development lands in unfinished housing estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48223/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the importance of tackling vacancy and dereliction and is committed to addressing these issues through a range of measures and with the support of all key stakeholders, including local authorities.
In March 2022, my Department issued correspondence to each of the 26 local authorities that had unfinished housing developments, requesting an update on the progress made since the last survey in 2020. Details in this regard were published in the Housing for All Q2 2022 Progress Report.
Since 2010, there had been a 98% reduction in the number of unfinished housing developments, from 3,000 to 75. Of these 75, 40 developments are unoccupied. These developments mainly contain partial shells and units at foundation level and are located in low housing demand areas. 35 developments that remain on the ‘unfinished’ developments survey for 2022, are occupied to some extent and are to remain the focus for local authorities to work towards a satisfactory resolution.
There is no longer a dedicated funding scheme for unfinished housing estates and currently there are no plans to reintroduce a further funding scheme for such purposes.
A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) Activation Programme was launched by my Department in April 2023. The Programme supports a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to the reuse of vacant and derelict properties. It also includes guidance for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers, including under the Derelict Sites Act, to acquire vacant and derelict properties and to use CPO powers, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.
Under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities have been provided with a range of powers and measures to deal with the issue of derelict properties. Local authorities can require owners or occupiers to take appropriate measures on derelict sites, acquire derelict sites by agreement, or compulsorily, and applying a derelict sites levy on derelict sites.
Measures introduced to tackle dereliction and vacancy include the provision of Vacant Homes Officers and Town Regeneration Officers in local authorities, the implementation of the Vacant Homes Action Plan and related resourcing and funding supports.
This funding includes Call 3 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund which provides a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties and sites for re-use or sale. The Fund is replenished from the proceeds received from the sale or reuse of properties, allowing a rolling fund for each local authority to tackle vacancy and dereliction.
The vacant property refurbishment grant, funded under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, has been a key measure in addressing vacancy and dereliction. At the end of the first quarter of 2026, more than 17,400 applications had been made to local authorities, with more than 13,100 of those applications approved and more than 5,300 grants paid, amounting to almost €285 million of grant funding paid out.
Delivering Homes, Building Communities reinforces and expands the range of measures being implemented by Government to work to end dereliction and long term vacancy. Under the Plan, a new Derelict Property Tax will be introduced, to be administered and collected by the Revenue Commissioners, to bring derelict properties back into use.
The commitment Government has made to addressing vacancy and dereliction and the actions under Delivering Homes, Building Communities will play a vital role in delivering homes across the country, and tackling issues that affect our towns and villages.
